Umgeni River – Mamba gorge
Umgeni River – Mamba gorge · kwazulu-natal
Grade
V
Length
9km
Duration
3 to 4 hours
Type
pool drop
About
A 9km pool-drop section forming part of the Dusi Marathon, during which the whole gorge is portaged over Ngumeni Hill. Easy rapids follow the put-in at Marianny Foley bridge before the gorge begins. An early obstacle is a waterfall that may be runnable at low water but must be portaged at higher levels. The remainder of the gorge holds technical grade 3 to 4 rapids, all runnable; at high water the gorge becomes hectic and suits only strong paddlers. Below the gorge the river flattens, with three named rapids — Gumtree, Tombi and Hippo — before the take-out at the Umfula store bridge. Flow is controlled by Nagle Dam.
Access
Put-in
Marianny Foley bridge
Take-out
Bridge at Umfula store
Permits
None